Game-board.



P. C. OSCANXAN. GAME BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1912.

1,071,080. Patented Aug.26,1 913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. G. OSGANYAN.

GAME BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1012.

1,071,080, Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

2 SHEETS'SHEET Z.

Wil i V5555 UNITED ST PAUL C. OSCANYAN, OF

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

GAME-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

Application filed March 14, 1912. Serial No. 683,794.

To all 717/1072]. v'fimay concern:

3e it known' that l, Parr. C. OSOANYAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (tame-Boards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear. and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to game boards or bulletins of a character designed to illustrate graphically the progress of a game, such as base ball, by means of indicators rcpresenting the runners and the ball, which play over the surface of a miniature field. ln carrying out this principle, novel devices. and mechanical movements are employed to shift the indicators representing the ball and the runners, from a point removed from the miniature field, and the invention includes a structure having a miniature field on the front thereof, and an indicator adapted to play over its surface and operated from the rear on a reversed field. it also includes members representing the runners which operate on the surface of the field when ad vaucing. and disappear beneath the surface ct the field when out of play.

l desire it understood that while I have shown but one indicator member representing runners operating between any twobases that the invention is capable of having one or more applied thereto.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation ofa bulletin board with my improvements applied; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cover removed; Fig. 3 is a rear view: Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section through two adjacent bases of Fig. 2. i Fig.

5 a diagrammatical view illustrating the.

electrical controlling devices.

1 represents a base or platform, 2 a cover having an opening conforming in shape to the infield and 3 is the infield, of slightly less size than the opening in the cover so as to leave open spaces between the several bases. Mounted on the front of the board under the cover 2, is the driving wheel 1 secured to shaft 2*, and provided with four grooves, one for each belt 3, 3", 3 and 3 Two of these belts 3 and 3" as shown in Fig.

2, pass directly from driving wheel 1 direct other two belts leading. to driven wheels 4 and 4 are passed around idle pulleys 1 so as to clear the other parts of the mechanism. The four driven wheels 4, 4", 4 and 4 are mounted to rotate on the base 1, and each is provided on its periphery with pins or stops 4 which latter are so located as to contact With the free ends of pawls 5, 5", 5 and 5, which latter operate to normally hold the driven wheels against rotation. In the operation of the device the driving wheel 1 is constantly rotating, the belts slipping on the driven wheels except when the latter are released from the pawls by mechanism to be hereinafter explained. Each wheel 4, 4", 4 and 4 isconnected to one end of a pitman or connecting rod 6, (3", 6, and 6", and each of the latter is connected at its opposite end to a cross head 9, (see Fig. 4) one for each connecting rod. The four cross heads are mounted in the guides 7, 7", 7 and 7 secured to the base board 1 intermediate the several bases, and each is designed to move from one base to the next. These guides are located at the four sides of the infield and extend from baseto base, and also as shown in Fig. 2, extend some distance outwardly beyond the bases so as to permit the member representing the runner to be withdrawn from sight. or runway from the three bases to the home plate, but as will be hereinafter explained, each member representing a runner, simply traverses the space between two bases, a run of two or more bases being represented by a relay from base to base.

The guides 7, 7", 7 and 7, are located just outside the infield 3, and are concealed by the cover 2, and the cross heads 9, which are mounted to move in the guides carry the L-shaped members 8, 8", 8 and 8 which represent the runners. The L-shaped membets are preferably made of spring metal so as to give or yield, and are wholly concealed under the cover 2, except the toes 8 which latter project inwardly and are exposed, when in play over the outer edges of the infield 3. i

Secured to the infield 3, are the switch tongues 12, shown in Figs. 2 and 4, one for each runner. These tongues 1? curve downto the driven wheels 4 and 4 while the 1 They form a continuous groove lit wardly and bear on a member of their respective guides, and are preferably made of spring metal, so as to give or yield to permit the toes 8 of the members representing the runners to pass under them on their return movement.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows :\Vheel 1 is rotated and as all of the belts slip, no action takes place, and none can take place until one of the pawls is removed out of the path of -a pin 4 on the periphery of its wheel. \V hen pawl, say 5 is operated, its wheel 4 starts to rotate, and the L-shaped member 8, which as before explained represents the runner, is moved by its pitman or connecting rod 6 over guides 7 In its movement the toe 8 of said member 8 encounters the rearwardly curved free end of the switch 12 and moves up over same onto the infield to the home plate, where said toe 8 is ex posed to the view of those watching the progress of the game. As the toe reaches the home plate, a pin 4 on the periphery of the wheel 4 comes in contact with the pawl I, thus stopping the rotation of the wheel 4 and also the advancing movement of the toe 8. If the batter makes a base hit, or is sent to his base, pawl 5 is again moved out of the path of the pins on the periphery of the wheel 4 thus permitting the member 8 and its toe 8 to move from the home plate to first base, the toe 8 being always-exposed while in play and of a contrasting color to the infield-so as to be plainly seen. During its progress from the home plate to the first base the toe is supported on the infield 3. \Vhen it reaches first base it then drops to a plane in rear of the infield, but is still visible, and its movement is again stopped by the contact of a pin on the periphery of its wheel with the pawl 5*. If the runner should be put out at first base, pawl 5" is again actuated and the wheel 4 and its (201% necting rod (5 now n'ioves'the members 8 and its toe 8 back to its starting point. Vhen the too 8 reaches the first base it moves otf its support and drops or falls back to a plane in rear of the infield. and as the member 8" is retracted, its toe 8 disappears under the infield, thus showing that the runner as put out on first base. If howev er the runner made the first base, pawl 5 is disengaged from its wheel 1" thus permitting the latter to rotate and move its member 8" toward second basefthe toe S of member 8" resting on and covering the toe 8 of member 8. After member 8 has been properly placed pawl 5 should then be actuated so as to draw the member 8 back to its starting point. During this rearward movement, the

toe of member 8 passes under switch 12, the latter having elasticity sutlicient to permit it to yield and resunieits normal position after the toe has passed under the same. If the runner, now safe on first base should be advanced to second base, member 8 would be actuated precisely as above described so as to carry toe 8 over to and on said base. If the base was safely made the toe would remain in sight, but if the runner was put out, it would disappear and return to its position adjacent the first base. It will thus be seen that by the arrangement above described, and the proper manipulation of the pawls, the runner can be relayed from the home plate around the circuit of the four bases.

The mechanism for actuating the several parts, is shown in Fig, 3, and consists of an electric motor 21 the armature shaft 92 of which is provided with a worm 23 meshing with a wheel 24 fixed to the axle 2 of main drive wheel 1, the said axle extending through the base or board 1 on which the parts are mounted. This motor is rotating constantly during the game and consc quently keeps drive wheel 1 continuously rotating.

The pawls 5, 5 5 -and 5 are each con nected by means of wires or rods 25 and by bell-crank levers 25, when necessary, to the four actuating knobs or keys 25 also located at the back of the board. By pulling any one of the latter its respective pawl will be disengaged from its driven wheel and thus permit its member representing a runner to advance or reccde as the play demands.

To illustrate or reproduce the movements of the ball over the field, 1 provide two members 13 and 15 preferably spheres, one located at the front and one at the rear. The ball 13 at the front, is connectedto two strings or equivalent devices 13 and 13 which hitter extend upwardly and pass through tubes 1431 1" in the right. and left fields respectively, to the rear side of the base or board 1, and carry at their free ends the ball member 15, which is the controlling member for ball 13. Ball 13 is also provided with a tension cord or equivalent device 16, which latter passes down 'ardly to the rear of the home plate, thence through a tube 18 to the rear of base or board 1, thence up and over idle pulley 1t) and is provided at its free.end with counterweight '20. Ball 15 is made heavy enough to counterbalance ball 13 together with its tension member 16, so that WlltI1 moved it will re tain its position until again positively ac tuated by the controlling ball 15, and it will be evident that if ball 15 be moved, ball 13 will be moved a corresponding distance in the reverse direction and can be made to traverse the bases or the fields and thus accurately reproduce the movements of the ball.

\Vith this device an operator standing at the back of the board can with his left hand control the members representing the runners and with his right hand move the actuating ball 15 in such manner that any combination of plays, runners and ball movements may be reproduced on the front of the board.

The operation of the various wheels may be conveniently controlled by means of electrically operated devices, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. As shown in this View, each wheel 4", 4, is provided on the periph-. ery with short and long contact pieces a, b, respectively, for cooperation with contact fingers c, (l, 0, while the wheels 4- and 4 are provided with a single contact piece Four solenoids A, B, C and D are provided, and the movable cores of these solenoids, are connected with the keys 25 for operating the several pawls. Leading-in wires are shown at A A, which receive current from any convenient source of supply, these wires being shown in Fig. 5 as connected with a lamp socket A. The leading-in wire A is connected with one end of each of the solenoid coils through the medium of manually operated switches, F, G, H, and the wire A is connected, by conductors g, h, i, j, with the contact fingers e of the several sets of fingers. One end of solenoid coil A, is connected by a conductor 70 with contact finger d of wheel 4 and one end of solenoid coil B is connected by conductors l, m with contact fin r d of wheel 4 and with contact finger 0 o wheel 4" respectively. A conductor n connects )IIQ end of solenoid coil C with contact finger c of wheel 4, and a conductor 0 connects the conductor a with the contact finger d of wheel 4,'a manually operated switch J being located in the circuit of said conductor 0. A conductor p connects one end of solenoid coil D with the contact finger c of wheel 4, and a conductor q connects conductor p with the contact finger d of wheel 4,a manually operated switch K being located in the circuit of said conductor q. Each wheel is provided with three stop pins 4*, the first of which holds the wheel with the runner member out of sight just off starting base; the second pin holds wheel so that runner member is at starting base, and the third pin, holds wheel with runner member at finishing base. Pawl on wheel 4 may be actuated by hand, which permits a runner member to become visible at the home plate. If it is desired to illustrate a runner running to first base, where he is out, the switch E on solenoid A is closed, all others being open. lt will, therefore, be seen that when the pawl on 4 is actuated by hand the wheel will rotate in a clockwise direction, moving L-shaped runner member to first base, when the circuit closer of wheel 4 comes in contact with the three spring contacts shown. Switches J, K, F, G and H on solenoids B, t and I) being open, there is but one path for the current, and the solenoid A, therefore operates to cause the runner member to start on its return path, disappearing below the surface of the field. If a two base hit is to be illustrated, switches on A B and C are closed and wheel 4 is started as before. When circuit closer on 4 reaches contact points two paths are formed, one to solenoid A and one to solenoid B. Solenoid B being energized, the L-shaged runner piece of wheel 4 will be cause to relay or cover up end of L-shaped piece on 4; circuit being simultaneously closed through solenoid A causes runner member of 4 to disappear. Wheel 4 still continues to rotate until small circuit closer completes circuit through solenoid B, which allows wheel 4" to continue to rotate until large circuit closer completes circuit both to solenoid C, which actuates wheel 4 causing its L-shaped member to relay the L- shaped member 'of wheel 4", and to solenoid ,which returns its L-shaped member to its starting position. If a three base hit is to be illustrated the procedure is just the same as just before mentioned, with the exception that J is also closed, which (continuing at the point where L-shaped member 4 had relayed that of 4") completes circuit through solenoid C, permitting wheel 4 to rotate until its large circuit closer com letes circuit both through solenoid D, which allows wheel 4 to rotate and cause its L- shaped member and through solenoid C, which retires L- shaped member of wheel 4. If a home run is to be illustrated, switch K is also closed, which (continuing where L-shaped member of wheel 4 had relayed that of wheel 4) completes circuit through solenoid D, which allows wheel 4 to rotate and move its L- shaped member to the home plate. If it is desired to illustrate'a runner out at second on an attempted two base hit, the procedure is the same as in a two base hit except that switch (i is left open, which prevents wheel 4 from relaying Lshaped member of wheel 4", which is returned to its starting point. For an attempted three base hit, with run ner out, same procedure is followed as in a three base hit except that switch K is left open, which prevents wheel 4 from relaying L-shapd member of wheel 4.

It is evident that many slight changes might be resorted to in the relative arrangement of parts shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope'of-my invention. Hence I would have it under stood that I do not wish to confine myself to theexact construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but

to relay that of wheel 4).

Having fully described my invention what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, s:-

1. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, mechanically control-led movable elements representing the runners and a shield to conceal them during part of their cycle of movement.

2. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, and movable elements rep resenting the runners which relay from base to base.

3. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, and movable elements representing the runners which relay from base to base and overlap movement cycle.

4. The combination of a representation of a base ball field and movable elements representing the runners whieh relay from base to base, and a means for starting and stopping said movable elements.

5. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements repre senting the runnersv which relay from base to base, a shield to conceal them during part of their cycle of movement, and a means for starting and stopping them.

6. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements representing the runners which mechanically advance upon the exterior of the field and during part of their mechanically return to their starting position in the rear of the field.

7. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, and movable elements representing the runners which visibly advance and invisibly return to the starting points through channels at the rear of the field.

8. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, reciprocating elements representing the runners, a shield for conceaL ing the latter during part of their cycle of movement, and means for starting moving and stopping said elements.

9. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, reciprocating elements representing the runners, a shield for concealing the latter during part of their cycle of movement and means for starting and stopping said reciprocating elements.

10. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, and reciprocating elements representing the runners which relay from base to base, connections between eating elements.

11. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements representing the runners, a shield to conceal them during part of their cycle of movement, and an electric motor and connections for actuating said elements.

12. Combination of a base ball field reprethe motor and reciproand electric motor and l sentation, two ball members, one at the front and the other at the rear of the field, and two flexible connections between said members, the said two connections extending toward the outfield from each ball member, and separated near the outer limits of the outfield, whereby the movements of one ball member are controlled by the other.

13. Combination of a base ball field representation, two ball members, one at the front and the other at the rear of the field, two flexible connections between said ball mem-' bers, the said two connections extending toward the outfield from each 'ball member and separated near the outer limits of the outfield, and a tension member connected with one of said ball members.

11. (lombination of a base ball field representation, a ball member on the front of the field, a controlling member on the back of the field, and two tlexible connections between said members, both diverging toward the outfield, whereby any movement of the controlling member on the back of the field will be reproduced, inverted, member on the front of the field.

15. The combination of a base ball field r presentation, a ball member on the front of the board, a controlling member on the back of the board, a plurality of upwardly diverging flexible means connecting said members, so that any movement of the actuating member on the back of the board is reproduced, inverted, by the ball member on the front of the board, and a tension member connected to said ball member.

16. The combination of the representation of a base ball field, movable elements representing the runners, a'shield to conceal the latter during part of their cycle of movement, two ball members, and an angular flexible connection between said members whereby the movement of one is controlled by the other.

17. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements representing the runnerswhich relay from base to base, two ball members, and an angular flexible connection between said members whereby the movements of one is controlled by the other. i

18. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements repre-- senting the runners which relay from base by the ball them, two ball members, and connections between said members whereby movements of one are transmitted to the other.

20. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements repre senting the runners, a. shield for concealing them during a part of their cycle of movement, means for starting, moving and stopping said movable elements, two ball members and an angular flexible connection between them whereby the movements of one are imparted to the other.

21. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements representing the runners which advance upon the exterior of the field and return to their starting point in the rear of the field, two ball members and angularly disposed flexible means connecting said members whereby the movements of one are controlled by the other.

22. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements which visibly advance and invisibly return, mechanical means for imparting these movements to said elements, two ball members and angularly disposed flexible means connecting them whereby the movements of one are controlled by the other.

23. The combination with a representation of a base ball field, reciprocating elements representing the runners which relay from base to base, an electric motor means connecting the several reciprocating elements and the motor for imparting the necessary reciprocating movement to the latter. two ball members and angularly disposed flexible means connecting said members whereby the movements of one are controlled by the other.

24. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements repre senting the runners, a shield to conceal them during part of their cycle of movement, two ball members, two angular connections between said members and a tension member connected with one of said ball members.

25. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements representing the runners. each of which moves from one base to the next succeeding one and then returns to its original position, a shield to conceal the runners during their return movement, mechanical means for moving said elements, a ball member on the front of the board, a ball controlling member at the back of the board and flexible means connecting said ball members whereby any movement of the controlling member on the back of the board will be reproduced, inverted by the ball member at the front of the board.

26. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements repre senting the runners and which relay from base to base, means for starting and stop ping said movable elements. a ball member in front of' the board, a ball controlling member at the back of the board and flexible means connecting said ball members where by any movement of the controlling member will be reproduced, inverted, by the ball member in front of the board.

27. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements representing the runners each of which moves from one base to the next succeeding base and is exposed during its forward movement and concealed during its return movement, means for actuating saidmovable elements, a ball member at the front of the board, a controlling member at the back of the board and flexible means connecting said members whereby any movement of the controlling member will be reproduced, inverted, by the ball member.

28. The combination of a representation of a base ball field, movable elements representing runners which mechanically relay .from base to base, a ball member at the front of the board, a controlling member and connections between said member whereby any movement of the controlling member will be reproduced, inverted, by the ball member.

29. The combination of a representation of a base ball field and movable elements representing runners which are mechanically relayed from base to base, and electrically actuated means for controlling the starting and stopping of said movable elements.

30. The, combination of the representation of a base ball field, movable members representing runners, actuating means for operating said movable members, electro-mag netic devices for controlling said actuating means, and circuit closers for controlling the operation of said electro-magnetic devices.

31. The combination with a-representation of a base ball field, of a plurality of wheels. means for actuating the same, movable members representing runners controlled by said wheels, ratchet means for controlling said wheels, solenoids having cores connected with said ratchet devices, electric circuits including said solenoids. circuit closers controlled by said wheels, and manually operated circuit closers, included in said circuits.

32. The combination of a representation of a base ball field and moving elements representing the runners Which are automatically relayed from base to base.

The combination of a bulletin board, a ball member and a plurality of diverging members from which the ball is suspended, the position of the ball being controlled by varying, the length of the supporting Inembers between fixed points and the ball.

34. The combination of a base ball field l representation and a plurality of runner 5 member units automatically actuated one by another.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this {specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, PAUL C. OSCANYAN. Witnesses:

G. H. Ln'rERsT, H. ARRoWsMrrH. 

